‘They take the time to talk to you, they never rush you, and I just cannot speak highly of them.

‘They would be deserving winners.’

Husband and wife Fred, 80, and Kathy Cornish, 78, of Sanderling Road, Milton, wanted to thank the team for all their help.

Mr Cornish said: ‘Both me and my wife have had help from the team and we really wanted to say thank you.

‘They’re all so helpful and friendly, and always make us feel like one of the family.’

And Millie Middlemiss put the team forward as they help her friend Joan McKenzie-Edwards.

Ms Middlemiss said: ‘We are all led to believe many elderly are ignored, but if you are lucky enough to get into the hands of the Amulree team you know you are safe.

‘They give you hope and encouragement. Joan is 100 but with this team it feels like she will carry on longer still.

‘Everyone is polite, they listen and they take their time.’

And proving the NHS still provides care from cradle to grave, the runner-up in the Hospital Team of the Year category was the neonatal intensive care unit.

In total there were 11 awards with winners and runners-up.

The night kicked off with an address from Editor of The News Mark Waldron.

He said: ‘Judging the winners was no easy task.

‘Reading through the range of readers’ comments, which were often very emotive, made it hard to even narrow it down to a winner and a runner-up.

‘All of those who sat in front of me who were nominated deserved an award for the work they do because the health service is only as good as the people who work in it.

‘I loved to hear the inspirational tales of all those who go above and beyond their call of duty to keep us in good health.

‘I want to thank all our sponsors for helping to make the event possible, and to the Portsmouth Clinical Commissioning Group for being the overall sponsors.

‘But most of all, I would like to thank the readers for making these awards successful.

‘Without your nominations and continued support, we wouldn’t be able to thank our dedicated health workers.

‘I hope your support will continue when we launch our 2016 awards.’

Dr Jim Hogan, head of the Portsmouth CCG, also spoke on the night.

He said: ‘May I start by thanking The News for bringing together so many of us for the Best of Health annual awards voted for by our public who receive our services.

‘These much-coveted awards are a fantastic way in which the community can say “thank you” for the work you are all doing in the world of health and social care.

‘Like many walks of life, staff in our line of work are only too quick to hear when things go wrong but do not always receive the praise they deserve when things go well – and most things go extremely well.

‘All those nominated for these awards are, in the eyes of the people who voted for them, true champions of the NHS and the community of providers and carers.

‘We know how passionately you care about your work.

‘We know how passionately you care for everything that the NHS stands for.

‘We know that you share our vision for everyone to be able to access the right health services, in the right place, at the right time.

‘We know you want to ensure when people receive our health services that they are treated with compassion, respect and dignity and that health services are safe.’

The roll of honour

Hospital Doctor of the Year

Winner: Dr Jim Khan

Runner-up: Dr Caroline Archer

Hospital Nurse of the Year

Winner: Colin Beevor

Runner-up: Jayne Fairbrother

Hospital Team of the Year

Winner: Amulree team at St Mary’s

Runner-up: Neonatal intensive care unit

GP Practice of the Year

Winner: Denmead Health Centre

Runner-up: Brockhurst Medical Centre

Pharmacy of the Year

Winner: Chaudhry Pharmacy

Runner-up: Venthams Chemist

Community Team/Nurse of the Year

Winner: South East Community Diabetes Team

Runner-up: Sexual Health Services, rapid HIV testing

Mental Health Team/Worker of the Year

Winner: Portsmouth Mind

Runner-up: Amanda Hawkins

Care/Nursing Home of the Year

Winner: Easterlea Rest Home

Runner-up: Thassala care home

Dental Practice of the Year

Winner: Cosham Health House Dental Practice

(no runner-up)

Unsung Hero

Winner: Eric Compton

Runner-up: Kelly Tanner and Neil Thorpe

Allied Health Professional Worker/Team of the Year

Winner: Paramedics Karl Touhey MBE, Lewis Meale,

Paul Snow and Mat Purssey

Runner-up: Chrissie Carden-Noad

Care and Compassion overall winner

Amulree team at St Mary’s

Here’s when the winners will appear in The News

NEXT week The News will be featuring stories of all the winners from the Best of Health Awards.

Last night’s ceremony celebrated those who collected a prize, and those short-listed.

Here is a breakdown of what’s coming up:

Monday: Care/Nursing Home of the Year and Allied Health Professional Worker/Team of the Year

Tuesday: Community Nurse/Team of the Year and Hospital Nurse of the Year

Wednesday: Pharmacy of the Year and Dental Practice of the Year

Thursday: Mental Health Worker/Team of the Year and Unsung Hero

Friday: Hospital Doctor of the Year and GP Practice of the Year

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